Reading FC Match Report: 2012/2013 Season - FA Cup

18 February 2013MAN UTD 2 READING 1

It is doubtless a sign of our progress that an FA Cup fixture with Manchester United represents a chance for the fringe players to step up. League games at home over the next couple of months represent our best opportunity to get out of a sticky situation which our poor form before Christmas got us into. Away games coming up at Everton and Arsenal sandwiching a return visit to Old Trafford look less appealing. It is probably a sign of the diminishing value of the Cup that a club like Reading would treat this grand old competition with such cavalier indifference, for that you may wish to blame the obscene value of the next Premier League television deal and the disgraceful failure of the authorities to distribute funds amongst the footballing pyramid rather than Reading Football Club per se.

Brian made 6 changes to the side which went down at Stoke. With mixed success, it must be said. Morrison and Shorey filled in competently enough in the back four, but the switch to four across the middle was far from an absolute triumph; that is at least after the excellent Leigertwood was swapped – presumably with the critical Wigan fixture in mind – for the ineffectual Guthrie. The change came around the same time that United introduced £20 million pounds worth of Robin Van Persie as the expectant home crowd began to grumble at their side’s failure to break down our modest line-up and particularly when compared to our own bargain basement front two of ALF and the ever-honest Hunt, this always looked like the game-breaking alteration. And so it proved as within 5 minute’s of RVP’s arrival United held a 2 goal lead. Sure, the Dutchman wasn’t directly responsible for the goals but the timing of the game decisively changing cannot be mere coincidence. United bring on RVP, we introduce HRK – therein lies the difference.

That United had to wait so long for the breakthrough owes much to heroic early defensive blocks as the home side chased the treble like a train at the outset. The excellent Federici – thoroughly justifying his injury-enforced reintroduction in recent months – somehow sprang an extra arm to deny Young at the second attempt following Cleverley's initial effort whilst at the other end Reading barely warmed De Gea’s palms although gradually we grew in terms of possession with Leigertwood at the hub of periods of comfortable ball retention against a growingly frustrated champions-elect. Nani struck a post with a firm drive from outside the area as half time approached at a good time for us with the tempo again raised after we had seemingly taken the sting out of their intent.

The introduction of Van Persie brought probably the biggest cheer of the evening from the home support and within minutes the game was won. With barely twenty to play, Valencia wriggled past Shorey and Nani drove the cut-back home under Federici. Our first shot on target came in anger in response as ALF half-volleyed at De Gea as a result of a knock-down from the otherwise ineffectual Hunt, who to be fair was dazed and in a state of repair following a bloody coming together with Vidic. United’s own super sub Hernandez then immediately showed us how top players punish mere mortals, with a glancing near post header which Reading defended fragilely. Against any other side this would be game over – indeed, against Reading six weeks ago this would have been game over – but we rallied as standard and the lively McAnuff put us back in the picture with a slotted finish following a hash of a clearance from Chris Smalling.

Reading gave the home side plenty to think about in the those final ten minutes with a whipping Shorey freekick delivery being glanced behind by a United head when it could so easily have nestled past De Gea had a Reading man got even the merest contact first. In truth though, United were just as likely on the counter attack and Welbeck inexplicably mis-controlled when a 3-on-2 presented itself as we poured forward. In the end United held out and a 2-1 home win seemed fair, but whilst honour in defeat becomes almost tiresomely self-righteous when repeated time and time again on our travels as we have become accustomed to, the facts are that our much changed side remained in the game until the final stages. In truth, for that you can thank Federici and perhaps without a midfield 4 comprising Guthrie and Karacan in the latter stages we might have taken advantage of United’s generally tepid showing on the night.
Neil Maskell

Post Match Fans' Opinion

I thought we were great. The result wasn't there, and having seen the five minute ESPN highlights we looked dominated but I think that's unfair - the first five minutes were a fright, and Feds saved us a good few times, but there was only a small period where it felt like they were "turning the screw" whereas I'd have said we had (minus the first five minutes) the better first half, and a heartfelt finish.

First ever trip to OT, and of the big teams they were always my fave as a kid - obviously now my allegiance lays with Reading, but nonetheless I've never been anti-united... However!! I couldn't believe how oxf*rd a fair few of their players were, particularly Hernandez? And the support was dire.. I appreciate we're probably seen as a "chalk that one off the fixture list as a victory!" side to their fans, but it was eerily quiet for the majority of the game - when they got going it sounded incredible, but it was rare, and (although the vast majority of it is painfully juvenile and routine at every game) the back and forth between their fans in response to ours was dreadful - quiet in the library/fire drill/sing a song for you may be unspontanious and trite, but the lack of *anything* back was double as awkward. On a side note, it wasn't shown on the highlights I've seen but Van Persies 360 mid air back heel roundhouse showboat was unbelievable.

Regardless - we were a lucky touch away from what would be a point in a months time when we meet them again, came out unscathed and with dignity. We gave it a much better crack than many who are considered stronger opponents would have done, and if we carry on like that, will be playing at OT again next year regardless of the cup.
DaveBanana

Quotes From The Press

Maybe it was the opposition, perhaps it was the Monday evening kick-off, but after the drama and excitement of Real Madrid last Wednesday, Old Trafford struggled to rouse itself for the visit of Brian McDermott’s team...Reading’s recent run of five victories from their last seven games pointed to their confidence, however, and their ability to get under United’s skin was highlighted by their success in emerging with draws from their last two visits to Old Trafford.

Federici, whose performances have been hit and miss since promotion to the Premier League last season, was enjoying one of his better nights and he pulled off a double save from Tom Cleverley and Young on 22 minutes as United continued to knock on the door.
Reading, whose only win against United came way back in 1927, struggled to threaten, partly due to striker Noel Hunt spending more time off the pitch than on it in order to receive treatment for a badly gashed head following a challenge by Nemanja Vidic.

And when defender Shaun Morrison blocked Cleverley’s 50th-minute strike, it appeared as though United were destined to record their first 0-0 draw in 101 games — their last being a stalemate at Newcastle in April 2011...

Nani made the breakthrough on 69 minutes, though, when he took a touch to control Valencia’s pass before sending a left-foot strike past Federici from 12 yards.
With their resistance broken, Reading then conceded another two minutes later when Nani’s pinpoint cross from the right was headed in at the near post by Hernandez.
Jobi McAnuff gave Reading a glimmer of hope when he scored from close range on 81 minutes, but United were in the ascendancy and the goal proved no more than an irritating statistic.
The Telegraph

United wobbled late on when Jobi McAnuff was quicker than Alexander Büttner to a rebound to pull a goal back for Reading inside the last 10 minutes but they survived. The visitors had got to 68 minutes with the game scoreless before Nani settled home nerves. He completed neat work from Antonio Valencia, who threaded a short pass to him inside Reading's area. After the ball had flipped up on Nani's left boot the winger volleyed home with the other to make it 1-0. Before Javier Hernández scored what proved to be the winner David De Gea was called upon to retain United's advantage with a sharp save to stop Adam Le Fondre's attempt from a few yards out.
The Guardian

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"The last 10 minutes were a bit scary. Some of the football tonight was fantastic and we could have scored a lot of goals. In that way I'm satisfied. We didn't want a replay though and, in fairness, we dug in and defended the long throw-ins and the balls into the box. You cannot get any better than a home tie in the Cup. It doesn't matter who we play, at Old Trafford we have got a chance."

Reading manager Brian McDermott:
"We gave them a real run for their money.
It makes you think when they can bring on players like Robin van Persie as well. When he was warming up I told him to sit down.
We have to come back here in the league and will know a bit more about what to expect.
We really wanted to put on a performance for our fans and we have done that. Now we can look forward to Saturday's game against Wigan."
BBC Sport